Can't blame Rahul Gandhi for poll reverses: Congress

Seeking to throw a protective ring around Rahul Gandhi, Congress yesterday rejected suggestions that the party vice-president should accept blame for its debacle in four states

New Delhi: Seeking to throw a protective ring around Rahul Gandhi, Congress yesterday rejected suggestions that the party vice-president should accept blame for its debacle in four states.

Rahul Gandhi

“Every election has its own issues. We do not see state elections in terms of any individual – Tarun Gogoi or Oommen Chandy. We will analyse causes where we need to do better,” the party’s chief spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala, told reporters, along with general secretary Mukul Wasnik and spokesman RPN Singh.

Surjewala said he “rejects this improper suggestion totally,” when asked whether Rahul should accept responsibility like he and Congress president Sonia Gandhi did after the Lok Sabha polls in which the party had its worst performance — just 44 seats in a House of 543.

He dismissed as “irrelevant” a query on whether Priyanka Gandhi would play a greater role in the organisation following the reverses. “Every election has different issues and they should not be seen linked to any individual,” he said in reply to a volley of questions whether Rahul would accept responsibility.

Wasnik, who was also incharge of party affairs in TN, Kerala and Puducherry, said it was not possible to immediately identify the causes for the losses in these states.

Rahul Gandhi saysWe accept the verdict of the people with humility. My best wishes to the parties that have won the elections. We will work harder till we win the confidence & trust of people